Hong Kong signed Friday a memorandum of understanding with Ireland on a new bilateral working holiday scheme for young people.

It enables those aged 18 to 30 from both places to stay up to 12 months in each other's territory for holidays and short-term employment. Participants can take up temporary jobs for not more than three months with any one employer.

The memorandum was signed during Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern's two-day visit in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa and officials of the Special Administrative Region government met with the prime minister Friday evening, which was followed by a banquet at the Government House.

The scheme comes into effect March 1, and there are 100 visitor places available for both sides annually.

Hong Kong's Secretary for Economic Development & Labor Stephen Ip and Ireland's Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Michael Martin signed the memorandum.

"The scheme will provide invaluable opportunities for our young people to gain exposure to a different culture and get work experience. I encourage our young people to make good use of this worthwhile scheme," said Ip.

"It will also strengthen bilateral ties between Hong Kong and Ireland and help tourism both ways," said Ip.

Source: Xinhua